STRINGSCALES

G phrygian Scale — Guitar Fretboard Visualization

Low E string: F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

A string: Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab at frets 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11

D string: D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12

G string: G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G at frets 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12

B string: C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11

High E string: F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb at frets 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11

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G phrygian

The phrygian mode is minor with a flat 2nd, the third mode of the major scale. That half step above the root gives it a dark Spanish and Middle Eastern color: flamenco resolves onto it constantly, and metal riffs on the flat 2nd for menace. Try vamping between the root chord and the chord a half step up to hear its signature cadence.

it consists of these notes and degrees:

G

i

Gm
A♭

bII

A♭maj
B♭

bIII

B♭maj
C

iv

Cm
D

v°

Ddim
E♭

bVI

E♭maj
F

bvii

Fm

Characteristic note: Ab (b2), the dark half step above the root that defines the phrygian sound.

Same notes, different mode

G phrygian uses the same notes as the scales below. Start from a different note and you get a new mode built on the very same note set.

Ab lydianBb mixolydianC minor · relative minorD locrianEb major · relative majorF dorian

phrygian in all 12 keys, with chords and related scales

tip
  • The flat 2nd (Ab) is the identity: open and close phrases with the bII (Ab) to root half step.
  • Vamp the root chord against the major chord a half step up (built on bII (Ab)); that two-chord move is instant flamenco in G.
  • For metal riffing in G phrygian, chug the open root and punctuate with the bII (Ab) and flat 6th (Eb) for maximum darkness.
  • If the backing has a major 3rd, shift to G phrygian dominant; keep everything else and only the 3rd changes.

How to play G phrygian on guitar

Open G sounds the tonic and open D the fifth, which means a drone pair is already tuned into the instrument. Three flats in the signature. Low E reaches a root at fret 3, so the E-shape barre sits in first position. Roots also sit at fret 10 on the A string and at fret 8 on the B, and box one runs from fret 3 with the next shape taking over at fret 7.

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